Friday, July 09, 2010

WRN Newsletter Schedule

Welcome to the latest edition of the WRN Newsletter which keeps you informed of upcoming programme highlights on WRN's English networks that broadcast to North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region.

Please send emails to contactus@wrnbroadcast.com or letters and postcards to WRN Broadcast, PO Box 1212, London SW8 2ZF, UK. You can also reach us via fax at +44 20 7896 9007 or via telephone at +44 20 7896 9010.

Sunday, July 11 2010: A Prairie Home Companion
This week on "A Prairie Home Companion", a nautical show for all the summer sailors. Maria Jette sings Schubert's "Die Forelle" ("The Trout"). Ruth Harrison turns down an opportunity to sail around the world with a swarthy author, Kate Rusby sings "I Courted a Sailor", John C. Reilly sings a sea shanty from our Iceland show, and you'll get the latest info on Tom Keith's cruise on Lake Superior called "The Inner Passage". Plus, Greek Tragedy, "The Golden Vanity", John Hiatt and a history lesson about the settlement of Minnesota by the Vikings. In Lake Wobegon, a bikini-clad water skier knocks the socks off a young pastor, literally.

In Africa and Europe 1100 BST / 1200 CET / 1200 CAT

Asia Calling Saturday July 10 and Sunday July 11
Developed to reflect the lives and reality of citizens across the region, "Asia Calling" is a weekly radio programme from Indonesia’s Radio News Agency KBR68H.

On this week's show: Cambodia's leading opposition politician faces jail: One of Cambodia's leading opposition politicians could face prison next week after an bitter legal battle with the Prime Minister. Mu Sochua is a former Minister for Women's Affairs who turned against the government in 2004. Her campaigns for women's rights have won her international recognition and she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. Most recently she has been embroiled in a defamation case with the Prime Minister, Hun Sen. She has till the 17th of July to pay a $4000 fine, imposed when the court ruled against her in August 2009. But as Sorn Sarath in Phnom Pehn reports says he will not pay.

Pakistan Children play out suicide attacks: Children in the war-torn areas of Pakistan are no longer playing traditional games. Instead they play out terrorist attacks and bomb blasts. Children are deeply affected by what they see around them. Health professionals working in the North West Frontier province say most of the children have been traumatized by the violence between local Taliban militants and government forces. Shahab-ur-Rahman, a father himself, watches children play in Peshawar.

Tea workers… a bitter survival in Bangladesh: After water, tea is the world’s most popular drink. The highlands of Bangladesh have been producing tea for over 150 years, but the profits at the expense of slave-like conditions for the workers has long been the subject of controversy and conflict. In this 2 part series, reporter Ric Wasserman journeys to the plantations in northeast Bangladesh to get a rare insight into the tea estates.

Singaporeans refuse to pay to watch World Cup: In order to watch the World Cup Football matches in Singapore on your own television you need to pay at least 55 US dollars. Singapore’s two major telecommunications companies, Singtel and Starhub won a joint bid to broadcast the World Cup after much wrangling with football’s governing body FIFA. It came with a hefty price for football fans. But as Monica Kotwani found out Singaporeans are finding ways to watch the matches for free.

In North America: 2230 ET / 1930 PT

In Europe: 2100 BST / 2200 CET

In Africa and Asia 1100 UTC / 1300 CET / 1300 CAT

In North America: 2230 ET / 1930 PT

In Europe: 2100 BST / 2200 CET

In Africa and Asia 1100 UTC / 1300 CET / 1300 CAT

Radio Australia - Saturday July 10, 2010
To find out about all the latest inventions and technological progress made in many different fields, tune in to Radio Australia's science magazine "Innovations"… A showcase of Australian design, discovery, invention, engineering and research skills!

In this week's show: Imagine if your daily water needs could be met by putting up a large sail-like structure every evening. That’s the idea proposed by three engineering and chemical researchers at the University of Sydney: their inspiration comes from nature and a beetle which lives in the Namib Desert in SW Africa.

Australian solar power technology heats up with the Federal Government’s big punt on a solar future. Tony Robey, chief executive of solar company Wizard Power talks about the company’s big dish technology.

Twenty-two solar technology systems are being compared in the searing heat of central Australia, where, despite the heat and desert conditions, there are cloudy days. The data collected is put on a website for use by researchers all over the world.

Sunday, July 11 2010

From dreaming to depression, addiction to artificial intelligence, consciousness to coma, psychoanalysis to psychopathy, free will to forgetting - "All in the Mind" explores the human condition through the mind's eye.

This week: Would I Lie to You? - Part 2. Companies are now marketing 'Voice Stress Analysers' and even brain scanners as alternatives to the polygraph lie detector, but do they work?

In North America: 1530 ET / 1230 PT

In Europe: 0830 BST / 0930 CET

Radio Guangdong - Saturday July 10 and Sunday July 11
Radio Guangdong, established in October 1949, is a leading radio group in south China. Radio Guangdong programmes cover political, economic, social and cultural issues; programmes about Guangdong, programmes about Guangdong people and programmes linking Guangdong with the world.

This week we can get the latest updates about the forthcoming Guangzhou Asian Games. Guess how much money has been spent on the construction of the venues, what has been going on for the opening and closing ceremonies, and how are other Asian countries preparing for the event? Find out more in on “Asian Games Live!”

Later, in “My Guangdong”, Matt Horn will be talking with Jide from America, who has deep roots in China since his mother was born in Guangdong and his grandfather taught at Lingnan College.

In North America: Sat 1200 ET / 0900 PT
Sun 2030 ET / 1730 PT

In Africa and the Middle East Sat 0015 UTC / 0215 CAT
Sat 1600 UTC / 1800 CAT
Sat 2045 UTC / 2245 CAT
Sun 0800 UTC / 1000 CAT

In Asia and the Pacific Sat 0015 UTC / 1015 AEDT
Sat 1600 UTC / 0200 AEDT
Sat 2045 UTC / 0645 AEDT
Sun 0800 UTC / 1800 AEDT

In Europe: Sat 2045 BST / 2145 CET

Radio Netherlands - Saturday July 10 and Sunday July 11, 2010
In "The State We're In" Jonathan Groubert and his team look at current events from an unexpected perspective.

Making a splash: Christoffer Lindhe in Sweden was once a competitive swimmer, who at age 17, was on the verge of quitting. But four years ago, a train accident nearly claimed his life, and left him without both legs and one arm. Now he’s back in the pool and ranked in the top five in the world. He tells Jonathan how competing has given him his life back.

Fatal football: Abukar Mohammed Gedi in Mogadishu, Somalia, just wanted to watch the World Cup with friends. But the Islamist terrorist group Al Shabab burst through the door and killed two of his friends. Abukar and others were taken to Al Shabab’s execution grounds but later were released. Now Abukar believes watching football is an act of personal liberty – and he’s determined to go on watching.

Leaving Al Shabab: Two years ago, Ilyas Hassan Omar joined the Islamist group, Al Shabab. But after shooting and beheading people, he grew disillusioned. His mother risked her life by pleading with his commanding officers to let him go. He now rejects Al Shabab, and prays for forgiveness for his sins.

Footsteps for change: Mamela Nyamza is a social activist and choreographer/dancer in South Africa, where women, foreign Africans and minorities are often treated badly. In this montage featuring music from her performances, she explains why she loves courting controversy.

The right to fight: Gabriel Shumba is a human rights lawyer in Zimbabwe. He tells Jonathan why he risks his life fighting for lost causes in a country whose political future looks bleak.

Sunday, July 11 and Monday, July 12 2010

"People Like Us" by Chris van Camp is featured on this week's "Radiobooks".

Flemish writer Chris van Camp is one of Belgium’s most popular columnists. Her story for Radio Books is based on events from her own past. She was brought up knowing that a good friend of the family, Uncle Rik, was her real father. But it was the truth that dare not speak its name and took the author 40 years to write about.

Monday, July 12 and Tuesday, July 13 2010: Radio Netherlands

"Network Europe" - a collaboration by Europe’s leading broadcasters. A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Wednesday, July 14 and Thursday, July 15 2010: Radio Netherlands

"Reloaded" is a chance to catch up with some of the highlights from recent programmes: the best, the most interesting or newsworthy, or sometimes the funniest, chosen by the producers and presented by Mindy Ran.

Thursday, July 15 and Friday, July 16 2010: Radio Netherlands

In "Earth Beat" Marnie Chesterton looks at the footprint we're leaving on our planet and runs stories of the people trying to make that footprint lighter.

This week the presenters look at the pros and cons of procreation. Making babies is supposedly the ungreenest thing you can do in your life. "Earth Beat" hears from individuals who have made the decision not to add to the burgeoning population, for the sake of the environment. Marnie speaks to groups worried that the growing population will outstrip this planet's resources and to others who claim this is just nonsense.

But not making babies also has an environmental footprint. Or rather, some types of contraception have surprising, often eco-damaging, side effects.

Radio Netherlands broadcast times:
In North America: 0800 ET / 0500 PT
1800 ET / 0300 PT
0000 ET / 2100 PT

In Africa and the Middle East 1000 UTC / 1200 CAT
2200 UTC / 0000 CAT
0400 UTC / 0600 CAT

In Asia and the Pacific 1000 UTC / 2000 AEDT
2200 UTC / 0800 AEDT
0400 UTC / 1400 AEDT

In Europe: 1930 BST / 2030 CET 1400 BST / 1500 CET
0030 BST / 0130 CET

Radio New Zealand - Sunday July 11, 2010 and Monday July 12, 2010
RNZI is New Zealand's only shortwave station, broadcasting to the Island nations of the Pacific. Its broadcasts range from Papua New Guinea in the west across to French Polynesia in the east, covering all South Pacific countries inbetween.

In North America: Mon - Fri 1200 ET / 0900 PT

Sun 1530 ET / 1230 PT

In Africa and the Middle East Sun 0000 UTC / Mon 0200 CAT

In Asia and the Pacific Sun 0000 UTC / 1000 AEDT

In Europe: Sat 0530 BST / 0530 CET
Sat 1500 BST / 1600 CET
Sun 0530 BST / 0630 CET

NPR - Saturday July 10, 2010 - 'Fresh Air'
"Fresh Air" with Terry Gross, the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues, is one of public radio's most popular programmes. Though "Fresh Air" has been categorised as a "talk show", it hardly fits the mould. Its 1994 Peabody Award citation credits Fresh Air with "probing questions, revelatory interviews and unusual insights". And a variety of top publications count Gross among America's leading interviewers. The show gives interviews as much time as needed, and complements them with comments from well-known critics and commentators.

"A Single Man" - the film about a closeted gay college professor grieving over the death of his long time companion is now out on DVD. On "Fresh Air" this week hear an interviews with the star Colin Firth who was nominated for an Oscar for his performance, and with fashion designer Tom Ford who made hisdirecting debut with the film.

In Europe: 1100 BST / 1200 CET

Radio Romania International - Saturday July 10, 2010
A Challenge for the Future" this week talks about the vulnerabilities of the modern world, among which the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud that brought air travel in Europe to a halt, or the high flooding in various regions on the continent. All these extreme weather phenomena need special solutions. Experts will have a say on the issue in “A Challenge for the Future”.

Saturday July 10, 2010 and Sunday July 11, 2010
"World of Culture" profiles one of the most popular Romanian actresses, Draga Olteanu Matei. Draga Olteanu Matei played hundreds of characters that delighted audiencies made up of people coming from all walks of life. The 4th Gopo Awards Gala this year, paid tribute to this great Romanian actress, whose career spans more than five decades.

Sunday, July 11 and Monday, July 12 2010: Radio Romania International

“Inside Romania” offers a very unusual radio picture, outlining the portrait of the donor as a very young person. Bianca Maria Demezzo, an eight year old girl who donated the savings she had made in the last five years to children who are sadly less lucky than herself. Bianca was one of the two people who received nominations at this year's “People for People” Gala.

Monday, July 12 and Tuesday, July 13 2010: Radio Romania International

"Pro Memoria" is talking about the history of Romanian freemasonry. At the turn of the 19th century Romanian freemasonry had emancipated thanks to an ambitious man: officer Constantin Moroiu. Romania’s National Grand Lodge, created in 1880, have gathered all the energies of the Romanian Masonic movement.

Tuesday, July 13 and Wednesday, July 14 2010: Radio Romania International

"Business Club" brings an item on the pharmaceutical market in Romania. In this edition we can hear about the activity of the most important companies in the field.

Thursday, July 15 and Friday, July 16 2010: Radio Romania International
"Traveller’s Guide" takes us on an imaginary journey to the Danube Delta, a fascinating tourist destination, irrespective of season.

Radio Romania International broadcast times:

In North America: 0600 ET / 0300 PT
1000 ET / 0700 PT
1730 ET / 1430 PT

In Africa and the Middle East 1230 UTC / 1430 CAT
0530 UTC / 0730 CAT

In Asia and the Pacific 1230 UTC / 2230 AEDT
0530 UTC / 1530 AEDT

In Europe: Mon - Fri 0500 BST / 0600 CET 2000 BST / 2100 CET

RTE' Ireland - Saturday July 10, 2010
Seascapes" is Radio 1's weekly maritime programme, providing comprehensive coverage of the marine sector.

This week's "Seascapes" is coming from Kinsale Yacht Club, right in the heart of the town. Last Sunday night the yacht Cork, skippered by Hannah Jenner, arrived into Kinsale to a hearty welcome. Kinsale has a distinguished Maritime tradition and its reputation as a superb location for seafood has been established over the years. The town is also home to the world renowned Yacht designer Ron Holland. Cork is the first ever Irish entry in Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. However, it hasn’t been all plain sailing for the Cork Clipper crew in this year’s race. In January, when the original Cork Clipper hit a reef in the Java Sea leaving it unsalvageable, the Cork Crew were forced to join the other teams competing.

In Africa and the Middle East: 0230 UTC / 0430 CAT

In Asia and the Pacific: 0230 UTC / 1230 AEDT

In Europe: 1800 UTC / 2000 CET

Sunday, July 11 and Monday, July 12 2010: RTE Ireland

"Dialogue" is a series featuring one to one interviews, where Andy O'Mahony talks to his guests about their interests, their concerns, beliefs and values.

This week, Rosemary Hill talks about the great 19th century British architect Pugin.

In North America: 1400 ET / 1100 PT

In Africa and the Middle East 0330 UTC / 0530 CAT
1930 UTC / 2130 CAT

In Asia and the Pacific: 0330 UTC / 1330 AEDT
1930 UTC / Mon 0530 AEDT

In Europe: 1800 UTC / 2000 CET

Wednesday, July 14 2010: RTE Ireland

"This Week" gives you an in-depth look at events making the news in the past seven days. Tune in to hear Irish views and commentary.

In this week's topics: Brothers of Charity, Galway, warns over HSE funding cuts. Before receiving news of a further funding cut, parents speak of their fears if the services were affected. Frank Conaty, whose family avails of respite services, says they cannot understand why they have been asked to shoulder an additional burden. Anne Geraghty, Acting Chief Executive, Brothers of Charity, Galway, warns that any additional cuts beyond those announced would devastate delivery of respite services.

In North America: 2100 ET / 1800 PT

In Africa and the Middle East: 0330 UTC / 0530 CAT

In Asia and the Pacific: 0330 UTC / 1330 AEDT

Thursday, July 15 2010: RTE Ireland

Presented by Olan McGowan, "Outside the Box" shines a spotlight on issues of broad concern to disabled people, their families and representative organisations. The show confronts issues head on and is not afraid to challenge commonly held assumptions about disabled people and the disability sector.

This week's topic: Hearing Loss.

In Africa and the Middle East: 0330 UTC / 0530 CAT


In Asia and the Pacific: 0330 UTC / 1330 AEDT

Saturday, July 10, Sunday, July 11 and Monday, July 12 2010: United Nations Radio "UN and Africa"

"UN and Africa" is a weekly, 15-minute radio programme that aims to cover topical and current affairs-related stories about what the UN is doing for Africa, in Africa and about Africa.

On the programme this week: More than 10 percent of children in South Africa are orphans. With the gradual loss of the African kinship care system, children are no longer taken in by the extended family, and most have no access to alternative care structures. So, they end up living alone or with their younger siblings in what is called child-headed households.

The race for World Cup Glory is edging towards its climax in South Africa. As national football teams sweat it out to clinch the coveted prize, a group of volunteers in rural KwaZulu Natal Province, is also sweating it out, to safeguard the lives of present and future generations in their communities. The volunteers are walking door to door spreading the message on HIV/AIDS control and treatment.

Five hundred thousand trees are being planted around the city of Juba in South Sudan as part of the Keep Juba Green campaign launched by the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP. I had a chance to speak with Robin Bovey, UNEP’s Sudan Programme Manager, who knows all about the campaign.

In North America: Sun 2045 ET / 1745 PT

In Africa and the Middle East Sat 0930 UTC / 1130 CAT

In Asia and the Pacific Sat 0930 UTC / 1930 AEDT
Sat 2030 UTC / 0630 AEDT

In Europe: Sat 0415 BST / 0615 CET
(WRN Newsletter # 398)